History of World Book Day in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: April 23, 2025

World Book Day, established by UNESCO in 1995, is an annual event held on April 23rd to foster reading, publishing, and copyright awareness. In the UK and Ireland, a related event occurs in March. Each year, UNESCO designates a World Book Capital, tasking the chosen city with promoting books and reading through various activities. Strasbourg was selected as the World Book Capital for 2024.

1922: Original Idea for Book Day

In 1922, Vicente Clavel, director of Cervantes publishing house in Barcelona, conceived the original idea for Book Day to honor Miguel de Cervantes and boost book sales.

October 1926: First Celebration of Book Day

The first Book Day was celebrated on October 7, 1926, which was Cervantes' birthday, as a way to honor the author Miguel de Cervantes and boost the sales of books.

1926: Book Day Celebrated Since 1926

In Spain, Book Day began to be celebrated since 1926 every October 7, the date that Miguel de Cervantes was believed to have been born.

1930: Change of Book Day Celebration

In 1930 King Alfonso XIII approved the change of celebration of the Book Day on April 23, the supposed date of the death of Cervantes.

1930: Book Day moved to April 23

In 1930, Book Day was moved to April 23, Cervantes' death date, to coincide with Saint George's Day in Catalonia.

1995: UNESCO establishes World Book and Copyright Day

In 1995, UNESCO established that World Book and Copyright Day would be celebrated annually on April 23, coinciding with the death anniversaries of William Shakespeare and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega, as well as the birth or death of other prominent authors.

1995: First World Book Day

In 1995, the first World Book Day was celebrated on April 23rd, an annual event organized by UNESCO to promote reading, publishing, and copyright.

2000: World Book Day Moved to April 13

In Sweden, the Världsbokdagen ("World Book Day") normally celebrated on April 23, it was moved to April 13 in the year 2000 to avoid a clash with Easter.

2001: Madrid named first World Book Capital

In 2001, UNESCO adopted the 31c/Resolution 29, establishing the World Book Capital programme and naming Madrid as the first WBC city.

2011: World Book Day Moved to April 13

In Sweden, the Världsbokdagen ("World Book Day") normally celebrated on April 23, it was moved to April 13 in the year 2011 to avoid a clash with Easter.

2020: Kensington Day of the Book Festival Cancelled

In 2020, the 15th Annual Kensington Day of the Book Festival in Kensington, Maryland, was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2024: Strasbourg designated as World Book Capital

In 2024, Strasbourg was designated as the World Book Capital by UNESCO, committing to a year-long program of activities celebrating books and reading.